Development of Unilateral Piriformis Syndrome in a Female with Congenital Leg Length Discrepancy.docVIP

Open Journal of Orthopedics, 2012, 2, 135-137 1 /10.4236/ojo.2012.24025 Published Online December 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ojo) Development of Unilateral Piriformis Syndrome in a Female with Congenital Leg Length Discrepancy Chia-Hung Sun, Shao-Chi Lu, Yung-Tsan Wu, Shin-Tsu Chang * Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Chinese Taipei. * Email: jim4882001@ Received October 15 , 2012; revised November 15 , 2012; accepted November 22 , 2012 th th nd ABSTRACT Background: This is a rare case of piriformis syndrome. We discuss the patient’s symptoms, imaging study results, laboratory examination findings, and prescribed treatment in an attempt to determine the possible mechanisms or rea- sons for this patient’s development of piriformis syndrome. Methods: The patient is a 22-year-old female soldier who was admitted for lower back pain with soreness radiating to her right buttock and right lower extremity. We found that she had leg length discrepancy under X-ray finding. She was diagnosed piriformis syndrome by physical examination and Magenetic Resonance Image. Results: We performed scanography for lower extremities revealed a left femur length of 42.7 cm, a right femur length of 43.3 cm, a left tibia length of 33.2 cm, and a right tibia length of 33.6 cm; her left lower extremity was 1 cm shorter than her right. The MRI of sacrum also reveals hypertrophy of right piriformis muscle. Conclusions: Piriformis syndrome might be caused by short-term compensation in congenital leg length dis- crepancy. The patient with leg length discrepancy changed posture when standing, walking, and running. These com- pensation postures could lead to abnormality position of bones